INVESTMENTS IN REAL ESTATE AND OTHER SECURITIES - Summary of Real Estate Securities (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) security bond	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 14,778,190
Amortized Cost Basis	7,164,388
Carrying Value	$ 7,585,323	$ 8,071,140
Weighted Average Life (Years)	1 year 4 months 30 days
Investments	$ 16,795,144
Bonds
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Carrying Value	$ 461,500
Number of bonds which New Residential was unable to obtain rating information | bond	210
Residual Bonds
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Investments	$ 195,600
Non-Agency Bonds
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Investments	0
Treasury
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Face	0
Purchase Price	0
Face	862,000
Amortized Cost	858,000
Sale Price	849,800
Gain (Loss) on Sale	(8,200)
Outstanding Face Amount	0
Amortized Cost Basis	0
Gross Unrealized Gains	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	0
Carrying Value	$ 0	852,734
Number of Securities | security	0
Weighted Average Rating	N/A
Weighted Average Coupon	0.00%
Weighted Average Yield	0.00%
Agency RMBS
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Face	$ 1,107,100
Purchase Price	1,093,700
Face	1,068,900
Amortized Cost	1,101,400
Sale Price	1,079,800
Gain (Loss) on Sale	(21,600)
Outstanding Face Amount	1,221,259
Amortized Cost Basis	1,217,176
Gross Unrealized Gains	847
Gross Unrealized Losses	(3,908)
Carrying Value	$ 1,214,115	1,243,617
Number of Securities | security	91
Weighted Average Rating	AAA
Weighted Average Coupon	3.28%
Weighted Average Yield	3.14%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	9 years 6 months 4 days
Agency RMBS | Fixed Rate Residential Mortgage
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 1,100,000
Agency RMBS | Adjustable Rate Residential Mortgage
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	100,000
Non-Agency
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Face	1,328,500
Purchase Price	523,800
Face	0
Amortized Cost	0
Sale Price	0
Gain (Loss) on Sale	0
Outstanding Face Amount	13,556,931
Amortized Cost Basis	5,947,212
Gross Unrealized Gains	477,813
Gross Unrealized Losses	(53,817)
Carrying Value	$ 6,371,208	5,974,789
Number of Securities | security	773
Weighted Average Rating	CCC
Weighted Average Coupon	2.56%
Weighted Average Yield	5.73%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	7 years 9 months 8 days
Weighted Average Principal Subordination	9.90%
Non-Agency | Fixed Rate Residential Mortgage
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 1,300,000
Residual and interest - only notional amount	600,000
Non-Agency | Adjustable Rate Residential Mortgage
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	12,300,000
Residual and interest - only notional amount	4,900,000
Investments in Real Estate Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	14,778,190
Amortized Cost Basis	7,164,388
Gross Unrealized Gains	478,660
Gross Unrealized Losses	(57,725)
Carrying Value	$ 7,585,323	$ 8,071,140
Number of Securities | security	864.000
Weighted Average Rating	B
Weighted Average Coupon	2.67%
Weighted Average Yield	5.29%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	8 years 25 days
Consumer Loan
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 43,303
Amortized Cost Basis	41,077
Gross Unrealized Gains	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	(1,008)
Carrying Value	$ 40,069
Number of Securities | security	4
Weighted Average Rating	N/A
Weighted Average Yield	21.50%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	1 year 10 days
MSRs
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 100,000
Amortized Cost Basis	100,000
Gross Unrealized Gains	375
Gross Unrealized Losses	0
Carrying Value	$ 100,375
Number of Securities | security	1
Weighted Average Rating	BBB-
Weighted Average Coupon	4.72%
Weighted Average Yield	4.30%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	9 years 6 months 22 days
Interest-Only Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 4,846,532
Amortized Cost Basis	227,709
Gross Unrealized Gains	10,446
Gross Unrealized Losses	(10,133)
Carrying Value	$ 228,022
Number of Securities | security	55
Weighted Average Rating	AA
Weighted Average Coupon	1.55%
Weighted Average Yield	6.47%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	3 years 1 month 8 days
Servicing Strip
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 390,144
Amortized Cost Basis	4,813
Gross Unrealized Gains	1,500
Gross Unrealized Losses	(218)
Carrying Value	$ 6,095
Number of Securities | security	21
Weighted Average Rating	N/A
Weighted Average Coupon	0.27%
Weighted Average Yield	21.24%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	6 years 7 months 1 day